Brick-kiln.



No. 686,407. Patented Nov. l2, 190|. f

W. JOYCE.

BRICK KILN.

(Application led Mar. .19, 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No..686,407. Patented Nqv. I2, |901.

W. JYC-E.

BRICK KILN.

(Applcaltion filed Mar. 19, 1900J (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES VPATENT OFFICE.

'a WILLIAM JOYCE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

BRICK-KILN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686.407, dated November 12, 1901 Application filed March 19, 1900. Serial No. 9,231. (No model.)

To 2f/ZZ whom, t may concern.: Be it known that I, WILLIAM JOYCE, of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brick-Kilns, of which the following is a specification.'

This invention relates to kilns for ring bricks, pottery, dac., and more particularly to that class of such kilns in which the draft is reversible.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangment in kilns,

which I shall now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a transverse vertical section of a kiln constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a plan view partly broken away and in section. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 rep- Iesents an enlarged section of parts shown in The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the main body or central chamber of the kiln, along opposite sides of which are arranged furnaces 2 2 3 3 in two tiers.

4 designates the Hoor-level of the kiln, and 5 designates a horizontal trunk flue or passage walled over on top and extending for the length of the kiln before the floor-level 4 and communicating at one end with a vertical stack or uptake 6. Leading laterally-from the trunk-flue 5, on both sides, are a series of horizontal flues or passages 7 7, located below the floor-level and open on their upper sides to the main chamber, each of said lateral flues connecting at its outer end with one furnace 3 of the lower tiers, the lateral flues constituting practically a continuation of the furnace-spaces 3 3. The upper tiers of furnaces 2 2 connect with the upper portion of the main chamber 1 through two vertical flues 8 8, one on each side, said flues being included between the outer side walls of the kiln and two vertical walls 9 9, extending parallel to said side walls. The walls 9 are shown as provided with numerous lateral perforations 10 10, connecting the vertical flues 8 8 with the main chamber l, the flues 8 also connecting with said chamber through their upper ends. In the roof of the kiln are a series of flues or outlets 11 11, provided with dampers or valves 12 12 for regulating the size of theopenings through said outlets or for entirely shutting off said openings. The grates 13 of the upper furnaces 2 are, as shown, located at or near the floor-level 4 of the main kilnchamber. The grates 14 of the lower furnaces 3 are located at about the level of the bottoms of the lateral tlues 7 7. Below the grate 14 of each of the lower furnaces 3 is an ash-pit 24. The lower furnaces 3 have outlet-openings 15 through their outer end walls for firing said furnaces, said outlets being provided with suitable closures 16. The ash-pits 24 have outlets 17, provided with closures 18. The upper furnaces 2 have outlets 19, provided with closures 20, the said upper furnaces being fired through said outlets or openings.

The arrangement of furnaces and nues above described provides for operating the kiln on either an updraft-or a downdraft, the method followed in practice being to start the kiln with an updraft and after the firing has proceeded to the desired degree to shut off the updraft and operate on a downdraft.

The upper and lower furnaces 2 3 are preferably used alternativelyin the above operation, and suitable arrangements are made for shutting off the one or the other set of said furnaces. Said arrangements, as here shown,

consist of sliding partitions 21, supported in place between the upper and lower furnaces 2 3 immediately below the grates 13 of the upper-furnaces, the said partitions being slid into and out of placethrough the openings 15 of the lower furnaces. The partitions 21 shut on? the draft of the upper furnaces and prevent the products of combustion from the lower furnaces from passing through the vertical flues 8. Provision is also made for shutting off the connection between the lower furnaces 3 3 and the lateral lues 7 7, said provisions consisting, permissibly, of vertical sliding dampers 22 22, operated by levers 23 23 and' adapted to occupy the depressed positions shown in thedrawings when the lower furnaces 3 are in use or to be elevated so as to become interposed between the furnacespaces 3 and the lateral flues 7 when the lower furnaces 3 are out of use. The partitions 21 ICO are preferably made of a heat-resisting material, such as fire-clay.

The operation is as follows: The central chamber of the kiln being charged with the material or articles to be fired and the kiln sealed, fires are started in the lower tiers of furnaces 3, the ash-pit closures 18 being removed to provide draft, the dampers 22 depressed, and the partitions 21 in place. The products of combustion then pass in a horizontal direction from the vfurnaces 3 through the lateral fioor-lues 7 7, upwardly through the contents of the central chamber 1, and out through the roof-flues 11. After the firing by updraft in this manner has proceeded to a desired extent the dampers 22 are elevated, so as t0 close the lateral lues 7, the roof-outlets 11 are shut off by moving the dampers 12, and the partitions 21 below the grates in the upper furnaces are withdrawn. Fires are made on the grates of the upper furnaces, and the closures 16 are removed to provide a draft for said furnaces. The products of combustion then pass upwardly through the vertical flues 8, over the walls 9 9, and through the lateral perforations 10 10 therein into the central chamber 1, through the contents of said chamber, and into the horizontal trunk-flue 5 by way of the lateral fiues 7, the final outlet being through the stack or uptake 6. During the downdraftfiring the fires on the lower grate 14 may be drawn or they may be left burning, in which latter case their products of combustion will pass upwardly through the upper grates 13 and through the bodies of fuel thereon.

It will be noted that the construction which I have described provides for a very quick and thorough ring of the ware in the kiln. The heat comes directly in contact with the ware, and there is no dead-space under the dome for the accumulation of steam. Furthermore, there are no dampers in the walls, and the floor-fines are accessible without any tearing up of floors. I prefer to employ two tiers of furnaces instead of one, since by so doing the downdraft-iirin g can be started with fresh fires and good combustion.

I claim- 1. A kiln having a main chamber, two furnaces located at one side thereof and olie above the other, a flue or passage leading horizontally from the lower furnace below the floor-level of the main chamber and communicating with the lower part of said chamber, a second flue or passage leading vertically from the upper furnace and communicating with the upper part of the main chamber, and a removable partition separating the two furnaces.

2. A kiln having a main chamber, two furnaces located at one side thereof and one above the other,the grate of the upper furnace separating the upper-furnace space from the lower-furnace space, the lower furnace having an opening for the introduction of fuel thereto, saidopening being below the grate of the upper furnace and constituting th-e atmospheric-draft opening for the upper furnace, a closure for said opening, a removable partition interposed between the upper furnace and the lower furnace and located below the grate of the former, a flue connecting the lower furnace with the lower part of the main chamber, and a second flue connecting the upper furnace with the upper part of the main chamber.

3. A kiln having a main chamber, two furnaces located at one side thereof and one above the other, the grate of the upper furnace separating the upper-furnace space from the lower-furnace space, the lower furnace having an opening for the introduction of fuel thereto, said opening being below the grate of the upper furnace and constituting the atmospheric-draft opening for the upper furnace, a closure for said opening, a removable partition interposed between the upper furnace and the lower furnace and located below the grate of the former, a iue connecting the lower furnace with the lower part of the main chamber, a second flue connecting the upper furnace with the upper part of the main chamber, and a damper for opening and closing the first said flue.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM JOYCE.

Vitnesses:

, A. H. HEws,

G. H. MCKEE. 

